PEAHAWAR: The Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government has decided to shut all outpatient departments (OPDs) in the province’s largest public sector health facility – Lady Reading Hospital – from tomorrow, fearing that coronavirus could either infect patients or their attendants.
The hospital spokesperson, Mohammad Asim, confirmed that there would be no OPDs from Monday in the hospital, apparently due to fear of transmission of the coronavirus.
He, however, said their emergency services would remain open round-the-clock.
Most of the senior physicians in LRH had politely opposed when the government decided to accommodate coronavirus patients there.
They were of the opinion that it could cause a huge damage to other patients, their attendants as well as thousands of health workers in the hospital in case any positive cases was brought to the hospital.
“The hospital has a very weak administration and can’t present a real picture to the government.
Everyday, 4000 to 5000 patients come to OPDs along with two to four attendants with each patient.
It was not a good idea to choose the busiest hospital like LRH for these sensitive patients,” said a senior physician in the hospital.
